I recently started playing with Kazuya. Like everyone else, I use 3x Skull Smash, 3x Twin Fang Double Kick as the core of my build. I am looking towards experimenting with a lot of Kazuya's cards as they seem pretty interesting and fun. Kazuya's cards are not as 'weird' or 'creative' as Yoshimitsu's so the remarks are not as informative. Similar to the Yoshimitsu Card Analysis, I will post the picture, damage, ability, etc...
Hope everyone finds this card analysis useful and insightful. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment!
20 22
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card hits: Opp 3rd card-60 80 Hit
Synergies: Jaw Breaker
Remark: This card is if you think about it, is an inferior version of Lion Slayer, except that it can occur when HP is greater than 110 and it decreases the damage of the opponent's card as oppose to discarding it. You should never have this card in your deck unless you have already have Lion Slayer. The damage is average. There is not much to be said about this card. Countering: Don't let it hit you or don't have a 3rd card, or dual strike.
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ Opp HP: Card +26 Hit
Synergies: Jaw Breaker
Remark: Awesome damage if the ability procs. Unfortunately, there will be scenarios when this card is a useless 9 damage (or 11 if you took the Punching Power Card). When that happens you will sure wish you took another more reliable card. I have been in many fights where Acute Pain's ability will proc, but there are also many times where it wouldn't have. Countering: Have less HP than Kazuya, and this will be a useless 9~11 damage.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Dual Focus: Both -15 HP
Synergies: Kumo Kiri, Tsunami Kick, Inferno, Glorious Demon God Fist, Devil Blaster SR
Remark: Average Damage, a way Kazuya can control his HP. Other than the self HP lowering, it does not offer a a great amount of utility. It is a Kick card so it does not receive bonuses from Wind God Fist or the Punching Power Card. Sometimes the ability can be unwanted, it may cause imminent death in certain cases. Countering: The only abilities that will really affect the outcome of the game when Kazuya has Low HP occur when Kazuya is 90 or below. When facing this card, you may want to refrain from focusing if it leaves Kazuya below 90. You can attempt to deal with this card if it is in position 1 by focus breaking.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: This card blocked: -15 HP
Synergies: Jaw Breaker, Stature Smash
Remark: Great damage, situational ability. Sometimes the ability of this card is unwanted, sometimes it is wanted. It is up to the opponent to determine whether the ability goes off or not. A nice way to give them incentive is to focus to 5 and strike. Countering: Most of the time, you don't really want to tank 30 damage from Kazuya so it is a good idea to block this card if you have the option to. Other than the ability (which might not even go off) this card is just a 30 damage Kick card.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Strike & HP ≤ 110
Synergies: Can't think of any
Remark: Great damage, "OK" ability. Although this is (in my opinion) a superior version of Soul Thrust, the ability itself isn't that useful. I would only use this card for the damage as depending on the ability is not a reliable way of winning. To counter this card, have less than 3 cards or dual strike with the Kazuya, or strike prior to them striking. Twenty-eight damage is somewhat intimidating so be wary of a strike.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Double Block & HP ≤ 90: -5 HP & Opp -1 card
Synergies: Demon God Fist, Rising Sun, Demon Slayer, Wind God Fist, Twin Fang Double Kick
Remark: A very nice card. Average Damage. The ability adds a lot of utility to Kazuya's Game. Although the HP requirement for activation is pretty high, the small -5 HP reduction can be just enough to adjust Kazuya's HP to 40 for Demon Slayer, or 35 for Rising Sun. If you use heavy damaging cards such as Demon God Fist which counteracts the HP loss, the opponent will be very intimidated and will most likely block. Countering: this is a trap card, kind of like Trout Sweep. It won't win the match like Trout Sweep but it will destroy any card advantage you may have had after Kazuya Strikes. Try your best to leave Kazuya at 91 HP or above. If that fails, don't be scared to focus 5 card strikes (lol).
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Opp Strike & HP ≤ 100: +20 HP
Synergies: Oni Stomp, Demon Scissors, Entrails Smash, Inferno, Heaven's Door SR, Demon's Wrath, Double Back Fist, Dragon Uppercut
Remark: One of 3 Healing cards in Kazuya's aresenal. Average Damage, sometimes unwanted ability. Depending on the deck you are running, this ability can be a liability or it can be awesome. Combining protection, parrying or damage reduction makes the effects of this card very strong. Unfortunately many of Kazuya's cards require Kazuya to be below a certain HP. That is where this ability becomes unwanted. If you have a deck that does not have any HP requirements to the cards, this card will fit in well, especially since healing is quite a feat for Kazuya. Countering: Make sure your strikes are not counter productive, sometimes it is best to just let the Kazuya Strike first so that striking won't leave Kazuya with more HP than he began with. Note, the ability will activate if you played strike and Kazuya's HP is reduced to 100 or below as a result of the damage from cards that hit.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Head-on card -20 Hit
Synergies: Can't think of any.
Remark: Average damage, "OK" ability. There is not much to be said about this card. The reason why I say "OK" ability is because Head-on card abilities are tough to trigger. For instance, if this card is in position 3, 4 or 5, it is only really OK when the the opponent has card advantage, or equal cards. If Kazuya has the card advantage, he will most likely strike first, else the opponent must "catch up" for this card's ability to be "potentially" useful because even after triggering, it only really becomes useful when the opponent strikes. I prefer Sokushitsu Goda, which will always proc, and just seems more reliable in general. Countering: don't strike if this ability is procing. The damage is not that intimidating compared to what Kazuya's other cards are.
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card appears: Opp 1st card -30 Hit & Opp 2nd card -30 Hit
Synergies: Demon God Fist, Twin Fang Double Kick
Remark: Average Damage. Decent Ability. When the ability goes off, focusing can be very safe. This card also plays a strong role when the opponent and yourself each at a sliver of health, Sokushitsu Goda will give you that uncontested strike or safe focus. Countering: Striking when this ability goes off isn't very efficient but you can almost guarantee that the Kazuya won't block, kind of like Oni Kick Combo for Yoshimitsu.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Dual Strike: +35 Protection
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Entrails Smash, Dragon Uppercut
Remark: Above average damage. Decent ability. Unfortunately this is literally outclassed by Double Back Fist in every way except that Double Back Fist is Unique and this isn't. You should only be carrying this card if you already have Double Back Fist in it. If Double Back Fist didn't exist, I would say this card is pretty good, but I really dislike carbon copies. Countering: Don't be so predictable with your strikes. Alternatively, you can focus till 5 cards and hope that the Kazuya has played strike before you reach 5, if they haven't you can 3x block 5 card discard. This card isn't the greatest card but the damage is still quite strong, 23~25
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: Block: +1 Punch Parry & Opp 4th card -10 Hit
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Steel Pedal Drop
Remark: One of the best defensive cards in the game. On top of an extra parry, it reduces the opponent's 4th card (if they have one) by 10. It isn't a full 5 card parry, but for 1 card, this is truly amongst the best defense in the game. The damage is below average but for such a strong ability, it is worth it. The only thing this card is missing is 1 more damage, and being a Punch card. Countering: if the opponent has this card, you should try a 1-2 card strike, and refrain from striking till they have play strike. Don't be afraid to consider a 3x Block into 5 card discard if you have 5 cards and the opponent Kazuya has 2 or more cards, one being Demon Scissors. This is because striking leads to 1 and a half cards hitting and the opponent will have 2 card advantage.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: Opp cards = 0: Card +20 Hit
Synergies: Gates of Hell SR
Remark: Average Damage. Not so useful ability. The reason I say "not so useful" is because a lot of players these days will have cards that will leave them with at least 1 card after striking, in other words, they will rarely be at 0 cards. Xiaoyu, Lili, Kazuya, and Nina will rarely be at 0 cards after the first turn. Countering: If the opponent has this card and you have no means of striking and ending up with 1+ cards, you can consider blocking to give them card advantage and an incentive to strike first. If you can avoid 41 damage, you should.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Can you see the Santa Clause in the artwork?
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Dual Focus & HP ≤ 120: Opp -10 HP
Synergies: Engetsusen, Tsunami Kick, Inferno, Devil Blaster SR
Remark: Average Damage. Decent Ability. Similar to Engetsusen except 10 damage, occus when HP Less than 120 and the damage is only for the opponent. Against other Kazuya's, Kumo Kiri can be your bane. Characters that can gain cards without actually focusing are unaffected by this. These include: Kazuya, Yoshimitsu, Law, Xiaoyu, Lili, and Nina. Countering: If it is in position 1, you can attempt a focus break, otherwise, you have to suck it up and just tank the damage. Alternatively, you can strike Kazuya till he is 121 HP, and from there lower him to 81, and then to 0. The 20~22 Damage is not that threatening.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ 140 & This card in 1st pos: Card +80 Hit
Synergies: Jaw Breaker, Skull Smash
Remark: Horrible damage. Nice ability. It seems like a very difficult ability to proc. The HP requirement can be met easily. "This card in X pos" abilities are quite difficult to get off. Even then, getting the damage to go through isn't guaranteed either. Cards like Jaw Breaker and Skull Smash aid in triggering the ability as well as ensuring the damage goes through. Overall, the ability is too difficult to pull off (in my opinion) and I would rather have something more reliable. Still, a pretty fun card. Countering: The ability will rarely go off, but when it does, you have to "guess right". You can imagine that people who run 3 of these cards will run 3 Skull Smashes as well. That being said, the last 3 cards have a chance to be quite low, so you may consider blocking 4 times in a row. Most of the time, this will be a crappy 10 damage card.
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Strike & HP ≤ 35: +2 cards
Synergies: Oni Front Kick, Oni Stomp
Remark: This has got to be one of the best abilities in Kazuya's deck. Unfortunately, the ability has the second hardest health requirement (Law's Dragon Cannon SR being the hardest). Damage is average. The ability can be quite devastating, but having 35 HP is quite risky as a mere gust of wind can KO you. If you do get to 35 HP somehow and have 3 cards of these as well as Twin Fang Double Kick and Skull Smash, you will make Xiaoyu look like Panda in terms of speed. Countering: When fighting Kazuya, drop him from 36+ to 0. Throughout the match, you should have seen one or two of these so you should be prepared to not let the Rising Sun proc. If you do, and you have 0 cards, you are most likely going to die blocking.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Strike: +1 card
Synergies: Searing Edge, Twin Fang Double Kick
Remark: Below average damage. Awesome ability. Considering they just nerfed Nina's Spin Low Kick to Right Upper (10 Damage, Punch, After the attack: Strike: +1 card & +4 HP), this card has got to be one of the best cards for Kazuya. The only thing it is lacking is some damage, but since it is a Punch card, it will receive the 2 damage from the power card, and the boost from Wind God Fist. Countering: Focus Break if this card is in 1st position. If not, there is not much you can do to stop the ability. As a tip, most Kazuya's won't strike unless they have this card in hand or have 5 cards.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ 40: Card +25 Damage
Synergies: Oni Front Kick, Jaw Breaker, Oni Stomp
Remark: One of Kazuya's muscle cards. Average damage. Good ability. Just like Rising Sun, this ability is quite difficult to pull off due to the low HP requirement. For an extra 25 Damage, I wouldn't say it is worth it. There are other muscle cards with less risk such as Demon God Fist, and Wind God Fist or even Agony Spear. After the ability procs, the damage is not secured as well. Countering: Burst Kazuya down from 41 to 0 so the ability will never proc.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Opp Block Won & HP ≤ 110: +70 Protection
Synergies: Slaughter High Kick, Devastator, Slaughter Hook
Remark: One of 2 cards in Kazuya's collection that give Protection after the attack, the other card being Heaven's Door SR. The damage is average. The ability allows Kazuya to get a safe focus the next turn. The desire of Protection after the attack is because of self damage inflicting cards such as Engetsusen, Tsunami Kick, Devastator, Slaughter High Kick, Devil Blaster SR. Unfortunately, due to the conditions of Stature Smash's ability, only Devastator and Slaughter High Kick can take advantage of the protection this card has to offer. Countering: 21 Damage isn't that intimidating and neither is the ability. The best way to approach this card is to throw in some focus breaks here and there. Most Kazuya players will focus to 5 and strike with this card so that the ability will proc.
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Strike: +50 Protection
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Entrails Smash, Dragon Uppercut
Remark: Great damage. Good ability. A lot of Kazuya's find themselves in predicaments where dual striking means a draw. Double Back Fist is the answer to all those draws. The card provides a strong 50 Protection and only requires a strike. At the moment, there are no "before the attack" self damage inflicting cards that will synergize with Double Back Fist, and there are no cards that reduce damage before the attack, so this card only plays when Dual Strikes occur. Considering it does 2 more damage and provides 15 more protection, it is much better than Demon's Wrath. If you plan on using Demon's Wrath, get Double Back Fist first. Countering: Double Back Fist can be quite intimidating as it boasts a solid 25~27 damage, and can absorb 50 Damage if the Kazuya strikes. The ability is not very intimidating but be weary when finishing a Kazuya. This card may be the difference between a Loss and a Draw.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Strike: Opp -10 HP
Synergies: Can't think of any
Remark: Average damage. OK ability. The ability combined with the damage makes Shattered Spine look like a 30 damage card or a 20 damage card and 10 unavoidable damage. This card seems like an ordinary muscle card and does not really do much other than provide damage. Still, one of the more safe and reliable damage cards compared to Demon God Fist or Stonehead. Countering: Remember to take into account the ability when doing your addition. Twenty damage is no laughing matter and blocking won't save you from the ability. If this card can be focus broken, you may consider doing so. The 30 damage you will be avoiding is 17% of your health. If the ability is going to kill you, always remember if you have healing cards that occur after the attack, you will reap their benefits and won't die that turn.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Strike & HP ≤ 110: Opp -1 Parry
Synergies: Soul Thrust, Acute Pain, Slaughter High Kick, Searing Edge, Demon Slayer, Devastator, Skull Smash, Twin Fang Double Kick, Wind God Fist, Agony Spear, Demon God Fist
Remark: Below average damage. Amazing ability. Allowing 1 more card to go through is awesome. Depending on your deck and what cards you have in hand, an extra card hitting can be an enormous asset. This card works extremely well with other cards that require hitting for the ability to activate (Devastator, Slaughter High Kick, Soul Thrust), as well as buffing cards (Searing Edge, Demon Slayer, Wind God Fist, Agony Spear). On top of that, Jaw Breaker works well with Twin Fang Double Kick and Skull Smash Combo, as a lot of the time you will be at 2-3 cards, if Jaw Breaker is amongst those, damage will most definitely be inflicted on blocks. I wouldn't use more than 2 Jaw breakers in a deck as 3 in a hand has no effect. Countering: Extra parries will counter this. Sometimes when there are 2 on the field, remember to focus if you have 0 cards. This card is not very threatening on its own, but with others, it can be a big difference in damage. Focus breaking to discard the enemy Kazuya's Jaw Breaker does not seem very attractive unless they have several cards.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: Opp Strike & HP ≤ 110: +25 Protection
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Rising Sun, Demon Slayer, Entrails Smash, Glorious Demon God Fist
Remark: Horrible damage. Good protective ability. Works really well in position 1 and allows focusing without any fear. Near the end of the match, this card could be the difference between a Loss and a Draw providing a cushion for focus breaks and soaking damage when turtle-ing. Do not use this card if your deck is lacking damage, Oni Stomp is purely for defense. Countering: Cards such as Wave Crest, or Wolf Fang destroy this card. Do not bother focus breaking to discard this card as it is somewhat counter productive. Focus with the opponent if they have card advantage. Remember to take into account the 25 protection when striking to lower Kazuya's HP to 81~90.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card hits: -15 HP & +2 cards
Synergies: Stature Smash, Jaw Breaker
Remark: Average Damage. Great ability. The main feature of this card is its ability to generate 2 cards for a low low price of 15 HP (Tsunami Kick charges 15 HP for 1 card). On top of that, it is the only card that offers self inflicted damage and cannot be negated due to the actions of the opponent (if it appears in position 3 or higher). This is one of the best Unique cards for Kazuya and in my opinion is compulsory to any strong Kazuya Deck. In positions 1 or 2 the ability may not trigger. If you run Jaw Breakers and in position 2, consider fishing for the Jaw Breaker before striking, otherwise take a guess. Countering: Knock the card into position 2, or focus break to discard it. In positions 3 or higher, there is not much you can do. Remember to take into account the 15 damage when striking the Kazuya, you will want to leave him at 96 HP and not 81.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card appears: Opp +20 HP
Synergies: Jaw Breaker
Remark: Highest damage for Kazuya. Unwanted ability. Due to the ability, this card actually is more like 30 damage. I don't know where healing the opponent can be a good thing (except maybe in a Kazuya vs Kazuya). Also this card in combination with Twin Fang Double Kick, Skull Smash may end up healing the opponent more than the damage dished out. Furthermore, if the opponent is brought to 0 HP from the effects of Gates of Hell SR or Shattered Spine, this card appearing will bring them back to 20 HP. Although the base damage is very intimidating, you only get the full effect if the opponent is already at full HP. I really like the 50~52 number on the card though, it really puts the fear of God into the opponent. Countering: Don't let it hit you if you have the chance as it gives a nice 20 HP. In position 3, you might want to consider focus breaking to potentially avoid the damage.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Opp Focus Break: -10 HP & +1 card
Synergies: Oni Stomp, Engetsusen, Kumo Kiri, Entrails Smash, Tsunami Kick, Inferno, Devil Blaster SR
Remark: Average damage. Decent Ability. Not exactly Nina's Assault Bomb (25 Damage, Punch, After the attack: Opp Strike: +1 card & +5 HP) but still pretty good. Synergizes well with the Oni Stomp to soak in the focus break damage, and many Dual Focus cards. Inferno with Glorious Demon God Fist enables an always win situation when playing focus. Countering: Focus along with Kazuya to avoid the ability from procing. He will most likely focus to 5 cards. Remember to take into account the -10 HP if you do decide to focus break Kazuya.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Awesome artwork. I enjoy the detail on the gloves.
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Opp Strike & Opp cards ≥ 3: +1 Punch Parry
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Demon's Wrath, Double Back Fist, Oni Stomp, Glorious Demon God Fist
Remark: A solid defense card with an average damage. Not as good as Demon Scissors for turtle-ing but the ability persists when playing Focus or Strike. The fact that Entrails Smash is also a Punch card is a nice bonus for those who use the Punching power card as well as Demon God Fist. Remember to take into account the parry when deciding to allow the opponent to strike to get 80 HP or below. Interesting Fact: If an opponent's card subtracts X "parry" (Paul's God Hammer Punch and Kongo Blast SR; Kazuya's Jaw Breaker; Yoshimitsu's Doushi Kiri; Xiaoyu's Wave Crest) it does not remove a "Punch Parry" so Entrails Smash still persists. Countering: Strike with 1-2 cards or allow the enemy to strike first.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
25 22
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ 60: P cards +15 Hit
Synergies: All Punch cards, Oni Front Kick, Jaw Breaker
Remark: Good Damage. Amazing Ability. This card is amongst the biggest damage buffers in Tekken Card Tournament and the best damage buffer for Kazuya. The HP requirement is not difficult to achieve, especially with the help of Oni Front Kick, or other self inflicting damage cards. Jaw Breaker (I think) works very well with Wind God Fist as it receives the bonus and allows another card (that hopefully also received the bonus) hit. This card has saved many many times and is the bane for those who are too lazy to do proper addition. Countering: Burst Kazuya from 61 to 0 HP to prevent the effects of this card. If this card is in 1st positions AND it is activated, you may want to focus break Kazuya as you could potentially eat a 100+ damage strike if they accumulate 5 cards.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Dooryah!
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Strike & HP ≤ 100: Opp cards -10 Hit
Synergies: Demon's Wrath, Double Back Fist, Hell Lancer
Remark: Average Damage. The ability is another Dual Striking ability. Where Demon's Wrath and Double Back Fist fail (against Xiaoyu), Dragon Uppercut will conquer. After drawing many games against Xiaoyu's who use Wave Crest, it seems Dragon Uppercut is the answer when seeking victory. Demon's Wrath and Double Back Fist are great, but cards which subtract protection (currently only Xiaoyu, Law's Wolf Fang nullifies cards making everything useless) will make them obsolete. Dragon Uppercut significantly lowers Xiaoyu's damage (in many cases, it makes her damage 0). At this moment, I feel this card only beats out Double Back Fist and Demon's Wrath in fights against Xiaoyu's that use Wave Crest. In all other scenarios, I would prefer Double Back Fist and Demon's Wrath.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
SHORYUKEN!
Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Dual Focus: -15 HP & +1 card
Synergies: Engetsusen, Kumo Kiri, Glorious Demon God Fist, Inferno, 160 HP Power Card
Remark: Average Damage. Great ability. A nice accelerator for Kazuya, as well as a self damage inflicting card. Receiving 2 cards a turn can make Kazuya extremely dangerous. This card goes very well with the 160 HP Power Card as it throws him off to a flying start. The only downside of this card is it isn't a punch. Countering: One way is to just not focus. Depending on the Kazuya's deck and their current HP, focusing to trigger the ability could be your downfall.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
13 11
Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: HP ≤ 80: Card discard & +2 card
Synergies: Oni Front Kick, Skull Smash, Jaw Breaker
Remark: Amazing ability. The bread and butter of many Kazuya Decks. Despite it's poor damage, this card is the driving force behind a lot of Kazuya decks. This is why high level players will burst a Kazuya down from 81 HP. Twin Fang Double Kick with Skull Smash boosts Kazuya's drawing power to Xiaoyu-like speed. Consider using the silver version for 20 Damage but a lower HP requirement (60). Countering: Burst Kazuya down from full HP to 81 to 0. If miscalculate and Kazuya is at 80 HP or below with this card in hand and yourself with 0, you can bet you will be taking a lot of damage in the next 3-4 turns.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
15 18
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Opp Focus: Card discard & Opp -2 cards
Synergies: Engetsusen, Kumo Kiri, Glorious Demon God Fist, Tsunami Kick, Agony Spear
Remark: Below Average Damage. OK ability. Aside from Lion Slayer and Oni Front Kick, this is the only other card that forces the opponent to discard cards. Although the ability seems rather straight forward, it seems rather difficult to fully utilize. I would suggest blocking when the opponent has 3 or more cards. Goes rather well with the other Dual Focus cards. I currently own 2 Inferno cards but I have never been able to make them work with my other Kazuya cards. I am looking forward to trying a second deck consisting of the Dual Focus cards and Inferno. Countering: Guess correctly, as I suggested to block when the opponent has 3 or more cards, I recommend focusing when you have 3 or more cards. It really is all just about guessing correclty, not much can be said.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
46 43
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Block: -1 Parry & +5 HP
Synergies: Oni Front Kick, Sokushitsu Goda, Jaw Breaker, Oni Stomp
Remark: Awesome damage. Situational ability. Sometimes +5~ HP can be useful and it also baits out the opponent. The -1 parry can be quite burdensome when behind in cards in which case, I would recommend striking to get rid of it and possibly sink 48 damage into your opponent. That being said, it is not always a good idea to focus when the opponent has 4 cards if you run 3 of these in your deck. If this card appears in position 3, 4, or 5 you can expect your opponent to take massive damage. Try healing a bit when holding 5 cards. Countering: Try not to get hit by this card when it is in position 1 or 2. In position 3, I recommend focus breaking. Don't be fooled when Kazuya attempts to heal 10 HP by blocking with 5 cards.
Rating: 3 out of 5 star
Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: Opp Only Punch: Card +30 Hit
Synergies: Jaw Breaker, Inferno, Gates of Hell SR
Remark: Average Damage. Situational Ability. Depending on the meta, this card could be great. When the ability is not active, this card is just another 20 damage kick card. To get a better chance at procing the ability, use Inferno to force the opponent to discard cards or strike. Gates of Hell also forces the opponent to take action. If the opponent is using a punch deck this card will be your greatest asset. Countering: If you play a Punch Deck, there is not much you can do other than strike and block all day. If you have a deck consisting of punch and kicks, but currently only have a punch, you must guess correctly and even than the nightmare may not end.
Rating: 3 out of 5 star
Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ 100: Opp 5th Card discard
Synergies: Demon Scissors
Remark: Average damage. Inferior ability. The reason why I say inferior ability is because Entrails Smash does not have an HP requirement to trigger, and triggers when the opponent has 3 or more cards. Steel Pedal Drop will only be useful when the Opponent has 5 cards. When the opponent sees this card, they will obviously attack with 4 cards or less. This is really an inferior version of Entrails Smash. If you need more than Entrails Smash, use Demon Scissors, you may lose out on 6~ damage (15 more from Wind God Fist) but at least the ability is infinitely better. Do not use this card if you already haven't purchased Entrails Smash. Something tells me this will get a buff. Countering: Strike with 4 cards or less.
Rating: 0.5 out of 5 star
Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card blocked & HP ≤ 90: +30 HP
Synergies: Stature Smash
Remark: Good damage. Situational ability. Sometimes the 30 HP can be a liability more than an asset and vice versa. I have yet to try Slaughter Hook in a deck that does not require certain HP levels but I feel it could fair well as an unreliable healing card. If you want the ability to go off, focus to 5 cards. If it is in position 3, focus to 5 cards and pray your opponent focus breaks you. If you do not want the heal, strike pre-5 cards. Countering: Depending on how the Kazuya plays it, you may not have a choice on whether the ability goes off or not, unless you want to tank a 5 card strike from Kazuya. If you push it into the 2nd position from the 3rd, you kind of have a choice but ultimately it is up to the Kazuya.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 star
Hope everyone finds this card analysis useful and insightful. Please don't hesitate to leave a comment!
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| Soul Thrust |
Soul Thrust
Damage:Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card hits: Opp 3rd card
Synergies: Jaw Breaker
Remark: This card is if you think about it, is an inferior version of Lion Slayer, except that it can occur when HP is greater than 110 and it decreases the damage of the opponent's card as oppose to discarding it. You should never have this card in your deck unless you have already have Lion Slayer. The damage is average. There is not much to be said about this card. Countering: Don't let it hit you or don't have a 3rd card, or dual strike.
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
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| Acute Pain |
Acute Pain
Damage: 9Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ Opp HP: Card +26 Hit
Synergies: Jaw Breaker
Remark: Awesome damage if the ability procs. Unfortunately, there will be scenarios when this card is a useless 9 damage (or 11 if you took the Punching Power Card). When that happens you will sure wish you took another more reliable card. I have been in many fights where Acute Pain's ability will proc, but there are also many times where it wouldn't have. Countering: Have less HP than Kazuya, and this will be a useless 9~11 damage.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
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| Engetsusen |
Engetsusen
Damage: 20Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Dual Focus: Both -15 HP
Synergies: Kumo Kiri, Tsunami Kick, Inferno, Glorious Demon God Fist, Devil Blaster SR
Remark: Average Damage, a way Kazuya can control his HP. Other than the self HP lowering, it does not offer a a great amount of utility. It is a Kick card so it does not receive bonuses from Wind God Fist or the Punching Power Card. Sometimes the ability can be unwanted, it may cause imminent death in certain cases. Countering: The only abilities that will really affect the outcome of the game when Kazuya has Low HP occur when Kazuya is 90 or below. When facing this card, you may want to refrain from focusing if it leaves Kazuya below 90. You can attempt to deal with this card if it is in position 1 by focus breaking.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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| Slaughter High Kick |
Slaughter High Kick
Damage: 30Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: This card blocked: -15 HP
Synergies: Jaw Breaker, Stature Smash
Remark: Great damage, situational ability. Sometimes the ability of this card is unwanted, sometimes it is wanted. It is up to the opponent to determine whether the ability goes off or not. A nice way to give them incentive is to focus to 5 and strike. Countering: Most of the time, you don't really want to tank 30 damage from Kazuya so it is a good idea to block this card if you have the option to. Other than the ability (which might not even go off) this card is just a 30 damage Kick card.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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| Lion Slayer |
Lion Slayer
Damage: 28Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Strike & HP ≤ 110
Synergies: Can't think of any
Remark: Great damage, "OK" ability. Although this is (in my opinion) a superior version of Soul Thrust, the ability itself isn't that useful. I would only use this card for the damage as depending on the ability is not a reliable way of winning. To counter this card, have less than 3 cards or dual strike with the Kazuya, or strike prior to them striking. Twenty-eight damage is somewhat intimidating so be wary of a strike.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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| Oni Front Kick |
Oni Front Kick
Damage: 20Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Double Block & HP ≤ 90: -5 HP & Opp -1 card
Synergies: Demon God Fist, Rising Sun, Demon Slayer, Wind God Fist, Twin Fang Double Kick
Remark: A very nice card. Average Damage. The ability adds a lot of utility to Kazuya's Game. Although the HP requirement for activation is pretty high, the small -5 HP reduction can be just enough to adjust Kazuya's HP to 40 for Demon Slayer, or 35 for Rising Sun. If you use heavy damaging cards such as Demon God Fist which counteracts the HP loss, the opponent will be very intimidated and will most likely block. Countering: this is a trap card, kind of like Trout Sweep. It won't win the match like Trout Sweep but it will destroy any card advantage you may have had after Kazuya Strikes. Try your best to leave Kazuya at 91 HP or above. If that fails, don't be scared to focus 5 card strikes (lol).
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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| Hell Lancer |
Hell Lancer
Damage: 20Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Opp Strike & HP ≤ 100: +20 HP
Synergies: Oni Stomp, Demon Scissors, Entrails Smash, Inferno, Heaven's Door SR, Demon's Wrath, Double Back Fist, Dragon Uppercut
Remark: One of 3 Healing cards in Kazuya's aresenal. Average Damage, sometimes unwanted ability. Depending on the deck you are running, this ability can be a liability or it can be awesome. Combining protection, parrying or damage reduction makes the effects of this card very strong. Unfortunately many of Kazuya's cards require Kazuya to be below a certain HP. That is where this ability becomes unwanted. If you have a deck that does not have any HP requirements to the cards, this card will fit in well, especially since healing is quite a feat for Kazuya. Countering: Make sure your strikes are not counter productive, sometimes it is best to just let the Kazuya Strike first so that striking won't leave Kazuya with more HP than he began with. Note, the ability will activate if you played strike and Kazuya's HP is reduced to 100 or below as a result of the damage from cards that hit.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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| Abolishing Fist |
Abolishing Fist
Damage: 20Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Head-on card -20 Hit
Synergies: Can't think of any.
Remark: Average damage, "OK" ability. There is not much to be said about this card. The reason why I say "OK" ability is because Head-on card abilities are tough to trigger. For instance, if this card is in position 3, 4 or 5, it is only really OK when the the opponent has card advantage, or equal cards. If Kazuya has the card advantage, he will most likely strike first, else the opponent must "catch up" for this card's ability to be "potentially" useful because even after triggering, it only really becomes useful when the opponent strikes. I prefer Sokushitsu Goda, which will always proc, and just seems more reliable in general. Countering: don't strike if this ability is procing. The damage is not that intimidating compared to what Kazuya's other cards are.
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
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| Sokushitsu Goda |
Sokushitsu Goda
Damage: 20Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card appears: Opp 1st card -30 Hit & Opp 2nd card -30 Hit
Synergies: Demon God Fist, Twin Fang Double Kick
Remark: Average Damage. Decent Ability. When the ability goes off, focusing can be very safe. This card also plays a strong role when the opponent and yourself each at a sliver of health, Sokushitsu Goda will give you that uncontested strike or safe focus. Countering: Striking when this ability goes off isn't very efficient but you can almost guarantee that the Kazuya won't block, kind of like Oni Kick Combo for Yoshimitsu.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
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| Demon's Wrath |
Demon's Wrath
Damage: 23Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Dual Strike: +35 Protection
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Entrails Smash, Dragon Uppercut
Remark: Above average damage. Decent ability. Unfortunately this is literally outclassed by Double Back Fist in every way except that Double Back Fist is Unique and this isn't. You should only be carrying this card if you already have Double Back Fist in it. If Double Back Fist didn't exist, I would say this card is pretty good, but I really dislike carbon copies. Countering: Don't be so predictable with your strikes. Alternatively, you can focus till 5 cards and hope that the Kazuya has played strike before you reach 5, if they haven't you can 3x block 5 card discard. This card isn't the greatest card but the damage is still quite strong, 23~25
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
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| Demon Scissors |
Demon Scissors
Damage: 16Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: Block: +1 Punch Parry & Opp 4th card -10 Hit
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Steel Pedal Drop
Remark: One of the best defensive cards in the game. On top of an extra parry, it reduces the opponent's 4th card (if they have one) by 10. It isn't a full 5 card parry, but for 1 card, this is truly amongst the best defense in the game. The damage is below average but for such a strong ability, it is worth it. The only thing this card is missing is 1 more damage, and being a Punch card. Countering: if the opponent has this card, you should try a 1-2 card strike, and refrain from striking till they have play strike. Don't be afraid to consider a 3x Block into 5 card discard if you have 5 cards and the opponent Kazuya has 2 or more cards, one being Demon Scissors. This is because striking leads to 1 and a half cards hitting and the opponent will have 2 card advantage.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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| Reign of Terror |
Reign of Terror
Damage: 21Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: Opp cards = 0: Card +20 Hit
Synergies: Gates of Hell SR
Remark: Average Damage. Not so useful ability. The reason I say "not so useful" is because a lot of players these days will have cards that will leave them with at least 1 card after striking, in other words, they will rarely be at 0 cards. Xiaoyu, Lili, Kazuya, and Nina will rarely be at 0 cards after the first turn. Countering: If the opponent has this card and you have no means of striking and ending up with 1+ cards, you can consider blocking to give them card advantage and an incentive to strike first. If you can avoid 41 damage, you should.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Can you see the Santa Clause in the artwork?
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| Kumo Kiri |
Kumo Kiri
Damage: 20Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Dual Focus & HP ≤ 120: Opp -10 HP
Synergies: Engetsusen, Tsunami Kick, Inferno, Devil Blaster SR
Remark: Average Damage. Decent Ability. Similar to Engetsusen except 10 damage, occus when HP Less than 120 and the damage is only for the opponent. Against other Kazuya's, Kumo Kiri can be your bane. Characters that can gain cards without actually focusing are unaffected by this. These include: Kazuya, Yoshimitsu, Law, Xiaoyu, Lili, and Nina. Countering: If it is in position 1, you can attempt a focus break, otherwise, you have to suck it up and just tank the damage. Alternatively, you can strike Kazuya till he is 121 HP, and from there lower him to 81, and then to 0. The 20~22 Damage is not that threatening.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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| Searing Edge |
Searing Edge
Damage: 10Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ 140 & This card in 1st pos: Card +80 Hit
Synergies: Jaw Breaker, Skull Smash
Remark: Horrible damage. Nice ability. It seems like a very difficult ability to proc. The HP requirement can be met easily. "This card in X pos" abilities are quite difficult to get off. Even then, getting the damage to go through isn't guaranteed either. Cards like Jaw Breaker and Skull Smash aid in triggering the ability as well as ensuring the damage goes through. Overall, the ability is too difficult to pull off (in my opinion) and I would rather have something more reliable. Still, a pretty fun card. Countering: The ability will rarely go off, but when it does, you have to "guess right". You can imagine that people who run 3 of these cards will run 3 Skull Smashes as well. That being said, the last 3 cards have a chance to be quite low, so you may consider blocking 4 times in a row. Most of the time, this will be a crappy 10 damage card.
Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
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| Rising Sun |
Rising Sun
Damage: 20Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Strike & HP ≤ 35: +2 cards
Synergies: Oni Front Kick, Oni Stomp
Remark: This has got to be one of the best abilities in Kazuya's deck. Unfortunately, the ability has the second hardest health requirement (Law's Dragon Cannon SR being the hardest). Damage is average. The ability can be quite devastating, but having 35 HP is quite risky as a mere gust of wind can KO you. If you do get to 35 HP somehow and have 3 cards of these as well as Twin Fang Double Kick and Skull Smash, you will make Xiaoyu look like Panda in terms of speed. Countering: When fighting Kazuya, drop him from 36+ to 0. Throughout the match, you should have seen one or two of these so you should be prepared to not let the Rising Sun proc. If you do, and you have 0 cards, you are most likely going to die blocking.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
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| Skull Smash |
Skull Smash
Damage: 13Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Strike: +1 card
Synergies: Searing Edge, Twin Fang Double Kick
Remark: Below average damage. Awesome ability. Considering they just nerfed Nina's Spin Low Kick to Right Upper (10 Damage, Punch, After the attack: Strike: +1 card & +4 HP), this card has got to be one of the best cards for Kazuya. The only thing it is lacking is some damage, but since it is a Punch card, it will receive the 2 damage from the power card, and the boost from Wind God Fist. Countering: Focus Break if this card is in 1st position. If not, there is not much you can do to stop the ability. As a tip, most Kazuya's won't strike unless they have this card in hand or have 5 cards.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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| Demon Slayer |
Demon Slayer
Damage: 20Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ 40: Card +25 Damage
Synergies: Oni Front Kick, Jaw Breaker, Oni Stomp
Remark: One of Kazuya's muscle cards. Average damage. Good ability. Just like Rising Sun, this ability is quite difficult to pull off due to the low HP requirement. For an extra 25 Damage, I wouldn't say it is worth it. There are other muscle cards with less risk such as Demon God Fist, and Wind God Fist or even Agony Spear. After the ability procs, the damage is not secured as well. Countering: Burst Kazuya down from 41 to 0 so the ability will never proc.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
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| Stature Smash |
Stature Smash
Damage: 21Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Opp Block Won & HP ≤ 110: +70 Protection
Synergies: Slaughter High Kick, Devastator, Slaughter Hook
Remark: One of 2 cards in Kazuya's collection that give Protection after the attack, the other card being Heaven's Door SR. The damage is average. The ability allows Kazuya to get a safe focus the next turn. The desire of Protection after the attack is because of self damage inflicting cards such as Engetsusen, Tsunami Kick, Devastator, Slaughter High Kick, Devil Blaster SR. Unfortunately, due to the conditions of Stature Smash's ability, only Devastator and Slaughter High Kick can take advantage of the protection this card has to offer. Countering: 21 Damage isn't that intimidating and neither is the ability. The best way to approach this card is to throw in some focus breaks here and there. Most Kazuya players will focus to 5 and strike with this card so that the ability will proc.
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
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| Double Back Fist |
Double Back Fist
Damage: 25Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Strike: +50 Protection
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Entrails Smash, Dragon Uppercut
Remark: Great damage. Good ability. A lot of Kazuya's find themselves in predicaments where dual striking means a draw. Double Back Fist is the answer to all those draws. The card provides a strong 50 Protection and only requires a strike. At the moment, there are no "before the attack" self damage inflicting cards that will synergize with Double Back Fist, and there are no cards that reduce damage before the attack, so this card only plays when Dual Strikes occur. Considering it does 2 more damage and provides 15 more protection, it is much better than Demon's Wrath. If you plan on using Demon's Wrath, get Double Back Fist first. Countering: Double Back Fist can be quite intimidating as it boasts a solid 25~27 damage, and can absorb 50 Damage if the Kazuya strikes. The ability is not very intimidating but be weary when finishing a Kazuya. This card may be the difference between a Loss and a Draw.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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| Shattered Spine |
Shattered Spine
Damage: 20Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Strike: Opp -10 HP
Synergies: Can't think of any
Remark: Average damage. OK ability. The ability combined with the damage makes Shattered Spine look like a 30 damage card or a 20 damage card and 10 unavoidable damage. This card seems like an ordinary muscle card and does not really do much other than provide damage. Still, one of the more safe and reliable damage cards compared to Demon God Fist or Stonehead. Countering: Remember to take into account the ability when doing your addition. Twenty damage is no laughing matter and blocking won't save you from the ability. If this card can be focus broken, you may consider doing so. The 30 damage you will be avoiding is 17% of your health. If the ability is going to kill you, always remember if you have healing cards that occur after the attack, you will reap their benefits and won't die that turn.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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| Jaw Breaker |
Jaw Breaker
Damage: 15Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Strike & HP ≤ 110: Opp -1 Parry
Synergies: Soul Thrust, Acute Pain, Slaughter High Kick, Searing Edge, Demon Slayer, Devastator, Skull Smash, Twin Fang Double Kick, Wind God Fist, Agony Spear, Demon God Fist
Remark: Below average damage. Amazing ability. Allowing 1 more card to go through is awesome. Depending on your deck and what cards you have in hand, an extra card hitting can be an enormous asset. This card works extremely well with other cards that require hitting for the ability to activate (Devastator, Slaughter High Kick, Soul Thrust), as well as buffing cards (Searing Edge, Demon Slayer, Wind God Fist, Agony Spear). On top of that, Jaw Breaker works well with Twin Fang Double Kick and Skull Smash Combo, as a lot of the time you will be at 2-3 cards, if Jaw Breaker is amongst those, damage will most definitely be inflicted on blocks. I wouldn't use more than 2 Jaw breakers in a deck as 3 in a hand has no effect. Countering: Extra parries will counter this. Sometimes when there are 2 on the field, remember to focus if you have 0 cards. This card is not very threatening on its own, but with others, it can be a big difference in damage. Focus breaking to discard the enemy Kazuya's Jaw Breaker does not seem very attractive unless they have several cards.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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| Oni Stomp |
Oni Stomp
Damage: 10Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: Opp Strike & HP ≤ 110: +25 Protection
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Rising Sun, Demon Slayer, Entrails Smash, Glorious Demon God Fist
Remark: Horrible damage. Good protective ability. Works really well in position 1 and allows focusing without any fear. Near the end of the match, this card could be the difference between a Loss and a Draw providing a cushion for focus breaks and soaking damage when turtle-ing. Do not use this card if your deck is lacking damage, Oni Stomp is purely for defense. Countering: Cards such as Wave Crest, or Wolf Fang destroy this card. Do not bother focus breaking to discard this card as it is somewhat counter productive. Focus with the opponent if they have card advantage. Remember to take into account the 25 protection when striking to lower Kazuya's HP to 81~90.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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| Devastator |
Devastator
Damage: 20Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card hits: -15 HP & +2 cards
Synergies: Stature Smash, Jaw Breaker
Remark: Average Damage. Great ability. The main feature of this card is its ability to generate 2 cards for a low low price of 15 HP (Tsunami Kick charges 15 HP for 1 card). On top of that, it is the only card that offers self inflicted damage and cannot be negated due to the actions of the opponent (if it appears in position 3 or higher). This is one of the best Unique cards for Kazuya and in my opinion is compulsory to any strong Kazuya Deck. In positions 1 or 2 the ability may not trigger. If you run Jaw Breakers and in position 2, consider fishing for the Jaw Breaker before striking, otherwise take a guess. Countering: Knock the card into position 2, or focus break to discard it. In positions 3 or higher, there is not much you can do. Remember to take into account the 15 damage when striking the Kazuya, you will want to leave him at 96 HP and not 81.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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| Stonehead |
Stonehead
Damage: 50Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card appears: Opp +20 HP
Synergies: Jaw Breaker
Remark: Highest damage for Kazuya. Unwanted ability. Due to the ability, this card actually is more like 30 damage. I don't know where healing the opponent can be a good thing (except maybe in a Kazuya vs Kazuya). Also this card in combination with Twin Fang Double Kick, Skull Smash may end up healing the opponent more than the damage dished out. Furthermore, if the opponent is brought to 0 HP from the effects of Gates of Hell SR or Shattered Spine, this card appearing will bring them back to 20 HP. Although the base damage is very intimidating, you only get the full effect if the opponent is already at full HP. I really like the 50~52 number on the card though, it really puts the fear of God into the opponent. Countering: Don't let it hit you if you have the chance as it gives a nice 20 HP. In position 3, you might want to consider focus breaking to potentially avoid the damage.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
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| Glorious Demon God Fist |
Glorious Demon God Fist
Damage: 20Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Opp Focus Break: -10 HP & +1 card
Synergies: Oni Stomp, Engetsusen, Kumo Kiri, Entrails Smash, Tsunami Kick, Inferno, Devil Blaster SR
Remark: Average damage. Decent Ability. Not exactly Nina's Assault Bomb (25 Damage, Punch, After the attack: Opp Strike: +1 card & +5 HP) but still pretty good. Synergizes well with the Oni Stomp to soak in the focus break damage, and many Dual Focus cards. Inferno with Glorious Demon God Fist enables an always win situation when playing focus. Countering: Focus along with Kazuya to avoid the ability from procing. He will most likely focus to 5 cards. Remember to take into account the -10 HP if you do decide to focus break Kazuya.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Awesome artwork. I enjoy the detail on the gloves.
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| Entrails Smash |
Entrails Smash
Damage: 20Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Opp Strike & Opp cards ≥ 3: +1 Punch Parry
Synergies: Hell Lancer, Demon's Wrath, Double Back Fist, Oni Stomp, Glorious Demon God Fist
Remark: A solid defense card with an average damage. Not as good as Demon Scissors for turtle-ing but the ability persists when playing Focus or Strike. The fact that Entrails Smash is also a Punch card is a nice bonus for those who use the Punching power card as well as Demon God Fist. Remember to take into account the parry when deciding to allow the opponent to strike to get 80 HP or below. Interesting Fact: If an opponent's card subtracts X "parry" (Paul's God Hammer Punch and Kongo Blast SR; Kazuya's Jaw Breaker; Yoshimitsu's Doushi Kiri; Xiaoyu's Wave Crest) it does not remove a "Punch Parry" so Entrails Smash still persists. Countering: Strike with 1-2 cards or allow the enemy to strike first.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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| Wind God Fist |
Wind God Fist
Damage:Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ 60: P cards +15 Hit
Synergies: All Punch cards, Oni Front Kick, Jaw Breaker
Remark: Good Damage. Amazing Ability. This card is amongst the biggest damage buffers in Tekken Card Tournament and the best damage buffer for Kazuya. The HP requirement is not difficult to achieve, especially with the help of Oni Front Kick, or other self inflicting damage cards. Jaw Breaker (I think) works very well with Wind God Fist as it receives the bonus and allows another card (that hopefully also received the bonus) hit. This card has saved many many times and is the bane for those who are too lazy to do proper addition. Countering: Burst Kazuya from 61 to 0 HP to prevent the effects of this card. If this card is in 1st positions AND it is activated, you may want to focus break Kazuya as you could potentially eat a 100+ damage strike if they accumulate 5 cards.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Dooryah!
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| Dragon Uppercut |
Dragon Uppercut
Damage: 20Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Strike & HP ≤ 100: Opp cards -10 Hit
Synergies: Demon's Wrath, Double Back Fist, Hell Lancer
Remark: Average Damage. The ability is another Dual Striking ability. Where Demon's Wrath and Double Back Fist fail (against Xiaoyu), Dragon Uppercut will conquer. After drawing many games against Xiaoyu's who use Wave Crest, it seems Dragon Uppercut is the answer when seeking victory. Demon's Wrath and Double Back Fist are great, but cards which subtract protection (currently only Xiaoyu, Law's Wolf Fang nullifies cards making everything useless) will make them obsolete. Dragon Uppercut significantly lowers Xiaoyu's damage (in many cases, it makes her damage 0). At this moment, I feel this card only beats out Double Back Fist and Demon's Wrath in fights against Xiaoyu's that use Wave Crest. In all other scenarios, I would prefer Double Back Fist and Demon's Wrath.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
SHORYUKEN!
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| Tsunami Kick |
Tsunami Kick
Damage: 20Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: Dual Focus: -15 HP & +1 card
Synergies: Engetsusen, Kumo Kiri, Glorious Demon God Fist, Inferno, 160 HP Power Card
Remark: Average Damage. Great ability. A nice accelerator for Kazuya, as well as a self damage inflicting card. Receiving 2 cards a turn can make Kazuya extremely dangerous. This card goes very well with the 160 HP Power Card as it throws him off to a flying start. The only downside of this card is it isn't a punch. Countering: One way is to just not focus. Depending on the Kazuya's deck and their current HP, focusing to trigger the ability could be your downfall.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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| Twin Fang Double Kick |
Twin Fang Double Kick
Damage:Type: Kick
Ability: After the attack: HP ≤ 80: Card discard & +2 card
Synergies: Oni Front Kick, Skull Smash, Jaw Breaker
Remark: Amazing ability. The bread and butter of many Kazuya Decks. Despite it's poor damage, this card is the driving force behind a lot of Kazuya decks. This is why high level players will burst a Kazuya down from 81 HP. Twin Fang Double Kick with Skull Smash boosts Kazuya's drawing power to Xiaoyu-like speed. Consider using the silver version for 20 Damage but a lower HP requirement (60). Countering: Burst Kazuya down from full HP to 81 to 0. If miscalculate and Kazuya is at 80 HP or below with this card in hand and yourself with 0, you can bet you will be taking a lot of damage in the next 3-4 turns.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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| Inferno |
Inferno
Damage:Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: Opp Focus: Card discard & Opp -2 cards
Synergies: Engetsusen, Kumo Kiri, Glorious Demon God Fist, Tsunami Kick, Agony Spear
Remark: Below Average Damage. OK ability. Aside from Lion Slayer and Oni Front Kick, this is the only other card that forces the opponent to discard cards. Although the ability seems rather straight forward, it seems rather difficult to fully utilize. I would suggest blocking when the opponent has 3 or more cards. Goes rather well with the other Dual Focus cards. I currently own 2 Inferno cards but I have never been able to make them work with my other Kazuya cards. I am looking forward to trying a second deck consisting of the Dual Focus cards and Inferno. Countering: Guess correctly, as I suggested to block when the opponent has 3 or more cards, I recommend focusing when you have 3 or more cards. It really is all just about guessing correclty, not much can be said.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
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| Demon God Fist |
Demon God Fist
Damage:Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: Block: -1 Parry & +5 HP
Synergies: Oni Front Kick, Sokushitsu Goda, Jaw Breaker, Oni Stomp
Remark: Awesome damage. Situational ability. Sometimes +5~ HP can be useful and it also baits out the opponent. The -1 parry can be quite burdensome when behind in cards in which case, I would recommend striking to get rid of it and possibly sink 48 damage into your opponent. That being said, it is not always a good idea to focus when the opponent has 4 cards if you run 3 of these in your deck. If this card appears in position 3, 4, or 5 you can expect your opponent to take massive damage. Try healing a bit when holding 5 cards. Countering: Try not to get hit by this card when it is in position 1 or 2. In position 3, I recommend focus breaking. Don't be fooled when Kazuya attempts to heal 10 HP by blocking with 5 cards.
Rating: 3 out of 5 star
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| Agony Spear |
Agony Spear
Damage: 20Type: Kick
Ability: Before the attack: Opp Only Punch: Card +30 Hit
Synergies: Jaw Breaker, Inferno, Gates of Hell SR
Remark: Average Damage. Situational Ability. Depending on the meta, this card could be great. When the ability is not active, this card is just another 20 damage kick card. To get a better chance at procing the ability, use Inferno to force the opponent to discard cards or strike. Gates of Hell also forces the opponent to take action. If the opponent is using a punch deck this card will be your greatest asset. Countering: If you play a Punch Deck, there is not much you can do other than strike and block all day. If you have a deck consisting of punch and kicks, but currently only have a punch, you must guess correctly and even than the nightmare may not end.
Rating: 3 out of 5 star
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| Steel Pedal Drop |
Steel Pedal Drop
Damage: 20Type: Punch
Ability: Before the attack: HP ≤ 100: Opp 5th Card discard
Synergies: Demon Scissors
Remark: Average damage. Inferior ability. The reason why I say inferior ability is because Entrails Smash does not have an HP requirement to trigger, and triggers when the opponent has 3 or more cards. Steel Pedal Drop will only be useful when the Opponent has 5 cards. When the opponent sees this card, they will obviously attack with 4 cards or less. This is really an inferior version of Entrails Smash. If you need more than Entrails Smash, use Demon Scissors, you may lose out on 6~ damage (15 more from Wind God Fist) but at least the ability is infinitely better. Do not use this card if you already haven't purchased Entrails Smash. Something tells me this will get a buff. Countering: Strike with 4 cards or less.
Rating: 0.5 out of 5 star
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| Slaughter Hook |
Slaughter Hook
Damage: 25Type: Punch
Ability: After the attack: This card blocked & HP ≤ 90: +30 HP
Synergies: Stature Smash
Remark: Good damage. Situational ability. Sometimes the 30 HP can be a liability more than an asset and vice versa. I have yet to try Slaughter Hook in a deck that does not require certain HP levels but I feel it could fair well as an unreliable healing card. If you want the ability to go off, focus to 5 cards. If it is in position 3, focus to 5 cards and pray your opponent focus breaks you. If you do not want the heal, strike pre-5 cards. Countering: Depending on how the Kazuya plays it, you may not have a choice on whether the ability goes off or not, unless you want to tank a 5 card strike from Kazuya. If you push it into the 2nd position from the 3rd, you kind of have a choice but ultimately it is up to the Kazuya.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 star
Worst character (balance wise) in the game.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sick of Kazuya players every single time I play online, and he is completely OP - none of his abilities for the common Kaz decks have any weaknesses. I hate his deck so much.
Is he beatable? Sure. Does he constantly win in situations that he should lose? Yep. All the time. Fuck the +2 card < HP and Strike = +1 card. So broken. Combined with the parries he is a cheap ass.
Worst Character balance... Lili ?
DeleteBtw it s a 50/50 vs paul (one hit & 155 hp) and around 60/40 vs xiaou. Yoshi and law can deal with him too.
Unplayable against lili & panda ... But sure, kazu is broken ^^. Honnestly, kazuya is one of the most balanced char at the moment. Everything is not perfect, but in general it's a fair opponent to deal with.
I m speaking about matches at my personnal ranking : 1350-1400
Steel Pedal Drop has good uses for me. Sure it's not a Demon Scissors or Entrails Smash but it completely screws a boost damage Yoshimitsu deck. In other cases where you're not running a discarder deck, Demon Scissors is much better against Paul and Xiaoyu decks who will almost always have 5 cards before striking.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I'm running a rather unconventional Kazuya deck which utilizes his discarder cards (Inferno, Oni Front Kick, etc.) and damage effects (Gates of Hell, Kumo Kiri). More like a burn and hand control combination. I still lack some of the key cards and still experimenting a lot with it so once the deck is fully complete, I'll let you know how it goes.
Hi Soul annihilator,
DeleteYou are right, if you have Entrails Smash already in your deck, then you may find a place for Steel Pedal Drop. Personally, I think this card is really really bad due to the HP requirement and the ability only procing when the opponent has 5 cards.
If your HP is lower than 100, the Paul will strike with 4 cards so the only time you would find use for Steel Pedal Drop is if you both Focus and your new obtained card was Steel Pedal Drop, but that wouldn't happen because the Paul player should already be able to kill you with 4 cards if you are under 100 HP.
As for Xiaoyu, I suppose it is pretty good but still very easily avoided. I hope Steel Pedal Drop gets a boost, I really enjoy the artwork.
As for your unconventional deck, I tried something similar to that, it was very fun, and utilized Devil Blaster and other Dual Focus cards to inflict damage. Inferno would reduce their cards to 0 or 1 and majority of the damage would come from the Dual Focus = Both/Opp -X HP. Unfortunately I ran into characters who were extremely fast (Xiaoyu) and would focus break me to the point where I never had any cards, OR they had means of obtaining cards from Blocking (Lili, Law, Yoshimitsu, orthodox-under80HP-kazuya, etc.). As a result, I never posted the deck.
Yes when you go that route with Kazuya, it's a very hard deck to play. It requires me to think more and read and predict my oppponent's moves very carefully. There are times that I don't play the game even if I have the time to play it because the deck requires me to be in a good mental condition lol (heck just reading the opponent when he's going to attempt a Focus Break is stressful lol). But it's very fun to play and I think it's very competitive. As I've said, I'm still experimenting with it.
DeleteAs for characters that have other ways of drawing cards like Xiaoyu, Oni Front Kick stops them on their tracks. Once you have 5 cards most players will block. That's where this card and Gates of Hell comes into play. The 3 turn discard all cards rule won't apply because the number of cards on the field changes every turn. And once you decide to attack, even if the opponent survives the carnage or if you don't have Gates of Hell in the field, both of you are reset.
The most crucial part is when the opponent decides to Focus. I read the opponent if he will attempt to Focus again so I can attack with 5 cards or Focus with him if I have Kumo Kiri in the field. And that is stressful lol. I can't fully rely on Kumo Kiri and Gates of Hell in doing damage, that's why I included Wind God Fist in my deck.
If I have the time, I might send you an email about the contents of my deck so you can analyze and maybe give me some suggestions.